Mike & Mickey Fisher (22287)
Nevada Mother Lode – Presidents

The joint Nevada State/ Nevada Mother Lode Chapter Rally took place from October 22-25 in Winnemucca, Nevada at the New Frontier RV Park. On Monday, October 23rd we all drove the 41 miles East on I-80 to the SSR Mining Marigold open pit Gold Mine just West of Valmy, Nevada. After viewing a Safety/Visitor Video, introductions and a Marigold mine overview, we all donned personal protective equipment (PPE) steel toed boots, hardhats, high visibility vests and safety glasses. Yes, they are very safety oriented, and rightly so.

We were driven in two Marigold mine passenger vans to Sec 20 to tour a 320-ton Haul Truck staged for an NKK photo opportunity. We then loaded up and were driven to an elevated mine overlook area where we viewed and photographed 70-ton (each scoop) Front-end Loaders the Haul Trucks with previously blasted ore. The loaded Haul trucks were then carefully driven out of the pit to the ore processing facility. We travelled by the vans back up to the Access building heap leach area and past carbon columns (process areas) where the processing steps were explained. We were fortunate to be accompanied during our tour with the mine’s General Manager, Director of Safety, Metallurgical Engineer and Community Relations Specialist. All of the mine employees were very professional, personable and open to explaining the mine operations and to answering our many questions.

All of the NKK rally participants would like to thank the SSR Mining Marigold Mine Management, Engineering and staff for graciously providing this unforgettable tour of your incredible facility.

Winter is now upon us so it is time to check the NKK Calendar and decide which NKK snowbird rallies you would like to attend in the Southwest or Southeast.

We can be reached at email fishermic5@comcast.net, or cell 775-781-9794.